As local bands come up the ranks from street corner to coffee shop to house party, they eventually reach the point where they’re ready to hit the big stage. While getting your name in lights (or at least on a flyer) may seem like an impossible mission, I’d like to give you—or the aspiring musos in your life—a fighting chance.

Hitting the stage doesn’t have to be a heartbreaking struggle, and I’m here to do the local music scene homework that all bands should be assigned. To kick off this “How to Book a Show” blog series for local musicians, I’ve spoken to the man behind the concerts of the Crepe Place (1134 Soquel Avenue), booker Adam Bergeron.

First, some background.

Bergeron learned the ropes in the music industry running several venues including San Francisco indie rock institution, 12 Galaxies, for more than five years. Since taking over the Crepe Place, he’s successfully transformed the restaurant’s front room into Santa Cruz’s own indie rock foundation, attracting both local and national talent. The Crepe Place hits capacity at about 100 people for live shows, has no stage, and in Bergeron’s own words is “oddly shaped.” Still, show after show it’s proven that there lies some magic in that room.

If your band would like to get booked at the Crepe Place there are a few simple guidelines that will help your chances. Recognize that the venue is a restaurant that also does live music. If you are an ear bleeding death metal band, be realistic about the fact that that this is not a match made in Heaven. The Crepe Place, like all venues, can only operate if it makes money. It may sound obvious, but many bands don’t realize how easy it is for a venue to lose money on a show. Any band that wants to book needs to be confident that they can draw at least 50-75 people out to the show on a weeknight.

Bergeron appreciates when band inquiries are concise and specific. Don’t leave out the pertinent info—the details that may seem obvious to you likely remain unknown to the rest of the world: Make sure to always include your band name, the date you want to book a gig, and provide a link to hear your music. Sending over an inquiry that only says “I want to play the Crepe Place!” will guarantee your e-mail gets deleted faster than the latest “Male Enhancement Medicine” spam.

If you have done all of this and you don’t hear back from Bergeron, don’t take it personally. The reality is that you are one of many and not everyone gets a show. It doesn’t mean your band isn’t great or that you should stop trying to build your career, it means there are only so many days in each month. Keep in mind that the Crepe Place books not only local bands, but touring regional and national acts as well.

The good news is that success stories abound. Take for example Quinn DeVeaux, a singer-songwriter who was just another name in the booking inbox. Today Quinn is Quinn DeVeaux and The Blue Beat Review; he went from a solo act to a six-piece band that’s now in high demand around the Bay Area. Recently he pulled off a sold out show at, yep, the Crepe Place

Health Screening

Leo Sun; Full Moon, Venus Retro in Leo; Saturn Direct

It’s a complex week of planetary movements, challenges, demands and callings. We’re in the time of the Leo Sun. Leo—fixed fire, gold, the heart, generous, strong, noble, the king/queen—needs appreciation and praise from everyone in order to move forward. During Leo we gain a greater sense of self-identification by recognizing our creativity. It’s therefore a perfect time for Venus retrograding in Leo. In Venus retrograde we review and re-assess values. Venus retro in Leo concerns our self as valuable, acknowledging talents, gifts, abilities and offerings. Friday, Venus re-enters Leo (29 degrees, a critical degree) continuing the retrograde to 14 degrees Leo on Sept. 6.
Friday (Full Moon) is also the (8 degrees) Leo solar festival, Festival of the Future. Leo is the heart of the sun, the heart of all that matters. When attuned to this heart, we have understanding and inclusivity. The heart of the Lion is Mitra (think “Maitreya,” the coming World Teacher). Leo prepares humanity to receive divine love from subtle sources and later to radiate that love to the kingdoms. Sirius, Ray 2, where love originates, streams through Regulus (heart of Leo), into the heart of the sun (Ray 2) and into all hearts. The heart of Leo is Regulus. Joining Venus, the love underlying all of creation appears.
Saturday is Sun/Neptune (confusion or devotion) with late night Saturn turning stationary direct. Ideas, plans and structures held long in abeyance (since March 14) slowly move forward. (Read more on Leo and the week at nightlightnews.org and Risa D’Angeles’ Facebook page, accessed through my website.)

The New Tech Nexus

Community leaders in science and technology unite to form web-based networking program

Holy Cannoli

Is Santa Cruz turning into Malibu North?

It's got a ways to go before it gets wrecked like Malibu, but I think we need to be very careful about growth.
Maria Mattioli, Santa Cruz, Psychotherapist

Bargetto Winery

A much-anticipated annual event at Bargetto Winery is the release of their very special La Vita red wine. June 7 was the day to be heralded this year, and I happily squeezed my car into their overloaded car park in eager anticipation of tasting the new La Vita nectar.